EWG: Lautenberg Vows '09 Action On Chemical Reform

Risk Policy Report
Published February 3, 2009

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), who is expected in the coming weeks to reintroduce his bill reforming the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA), says he hopes to move the bill this session of Congress, amid chemical industry claims that other congressional priorities are going to delay action on the bill until next year. "The senator intends to push for and hold hearings on the need for TSCA reform, as well as reintroduce the Kid Safe Chemicals Act (KSCA). He also intends to move KSCA through [the Senate environment committee] and the Congress this session," Lautenberg's office said in a Jan. 30 statement. The bill generally shifts the onus from EPA to industry to demonstrate that chemicals are safe and includes beefed-up measures to prevent harmful chemicals from the market. "Kid-Safe, whose provisions closely mirror GAO's recommendations, would require chemical companies to bear the expense of proving their products are safe for human health and the environment. Under current law, EPA must pay for the expensive, time-consuming research necessary to prove a substance dangerous," the Environmental Working Group (EWG) said in a Jan. 23 statement. To read the full article go to the following link. (a subscription is required) http://environmentalnewsstand.com/epanewsstand_nletters.asp?NLN=risk